The Quest for Relevant Air Power

POST–COLD WAR CHALLENGES │ 55
Courtesy US Air Force
NATO C-17 Globemaster III from the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing,
Papa AB, Hungary, makes the new unit’s first landing at Baghdad International
Airport, Iraq. The airlift into Iraq was a first by the wing and facilitated
the deployment for members of the NATO Training Mission–Iraq.
The first of three C-17 Globemasters arrived at its home air base
in Papa, Hungary, on 27 July 2009. 265 Concurrently, the European
Defence Agency (EDA) began to explore the possibilities of pooling
acquisition, maintenance, and training in case of additional
A400M purchases. 266 In the long term, these efforts might result in
a multinational A400M unit. 267
NATO and EU Initiatives. NATO has attempted to improve
military effectiveness not only through shared ownership but also
through strategic initiatives. At the Washington summit meeting
in April 1999, NATO’s Defence Capabilities Initiative (DCI) was
launched. It was primarily designed to improve alliance defence
capabilities in combined and deployed operations. 268 Though a biannual
NATO Force Goal Process had already attempted to address
apparent shortfalls, increased political attention could be
gained through the DCI. 269 In the domain of air power, the DCI
particularly identified capability gaps in areas such as strategic airlift,
combat search and rescue (CSAR), AAR, airborne standoff
jamming, and air-to-ground surveillance systems. 270
Three and a half years later, at the November 2002 summit in
Prague, NATO members adopted a new capabilities initiative, the
Prague Capabilities Commitment. The new initiative differed
from its predecessor in that individual allies made firm political
commitments for improvements. Air power requirements were